14 Apr
2007
14 Apr
'07
7:13 a.m.
Subject: Re: Dreaming of a lean installation method
From: davis <davis at saw.net>
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:36:18 -0700
To: General at saw.net, "Discussion at saw.net":On-Topic Posts Only
<cctech at classiccmp.org>
Ensor wrote:
> Hi,
>
> > I bought the MINIX version for the Atari ST and installed it, but
> >I used it as a toy, I don't remember recompiling the kernal. It had
> >full kernal source, and all the tools to rebuild....
>
> It sure came with the sources, but I'm 99.999999999999% certain you
> could not rebuild the kernal because no compiler was included in the
> distribution.
>
> >....I think you're mistaken saying it was useless.
>
> It certainly fulfilled it's aim of being a platform to learn about
> modern OS design and implementation, but without applications or a way
> to develop them, it's usefulness is ultimately limited (by what is
> included in the distribution).
>
> Don't forget, very few people had 'net access back then, those of us
> who were on-line were mostly on FidoNet and there was nothing online
> for Minix that I could find (and I tried pretty hard).
Minix is not up to V3.x and easily found on the net even old V1.5. It's
sources are available. It does not come with a compiler after all it's
an OS. It was expected that MINIX would be cross compiled on a platform
that supports a suitable compiler. there is nothing to say it's not
possibel to create a native MINIX compiler and then run/compile natively
assuming the platform is big enough to support it.
I might point out that CP/M was initially cross compiled on a PDP10
for the 8080 and in the later years rewritten in C and a VAX was used.
It's not unusual to have a OS that does not come supplied with
compilation tools.
Allison